US Chapter 2 Flashcards
Block grant
Transfers of cash from the national to state and local governments in which state and local officials are allowed discretion in spending the money within some broad policy area, such as community development or social services
Categorical grant-in-aid
Transfers of cash from the national to state and/or local governments for some specific purpose, usually with the accompanying requirement that the state and local governments match the national money with some funds of their own
Confederation
A loose association of states in which dominant political power lies with the member states and not with the central government
Cooperative federalism
A model of federalism that features intertwining relationships and shared areas of responsibility between the national and state and local governments
Council-manager
A form of government at the local level where an elected council exercises legislative powers and hires a city manager to perform executive and administrative duties
Delegated powers
Legal authority that the people in the states granted to the national government for certain purposes by ratifying the Constitution, delegated powers can be wither express or implied
Dual federalism
A model of federalism in which national and state governments are separate and independent from each other, with each level exercising its own powers in its own jurisdiction
Electoral College
Institution established by the Constitution for electing the president and vice president and whose members–electors chosen by the voters–actually elect the president and vice president
Express powers
Powers specifically enumerated in the Constitution as belonging to the national government
Federalism
A system of government in which both the national and state governments share power within the same political system
Home rule
A legal system in which local governments, especially large cities, can determine for themselves within broad parameters their own powers and functions without interference from the state government
Implied powers
Powers of the national government that are not specifically cited in the Constitution, but that are implicit in powers expressly granted by the Consitution
Interstate compact
A formal agreement between states designed to solve a problem facing more than one state when such an agreement is necessary because political problems are not limited by geographic boundaries
Mayor-council
A form of government at the local level that mirrors the executive-legislative structure at the state and national levels where the mayor has executive powers and the council legislative powers
McCulloch vs. Maryland
Supreme Court case in 1819 that established the constitutionality of a national bank and solidified national power by confirming that the federal government can exercise implied powers to carry out legitimate and otherwise constitutional ends